Wise One,
I keep having nightmares again. Dreams of the past are no surprise, but I've been dreaming of trying to save my pets from various death scenarios as well. For example, deadly spiders trying to hunt them, and I must find a way to deter them without killing them. Another is being in a flooded room and I desperately try to keep them above water, though I risk drowning myself (and in the real world they can swim). I wish I was a lucid dreamer, who could take full control of my dreams.
School is already pretty difficult. The subjects has more to do with economy, government, and politics then I expected. Moreover, the written assignments for this term is far more extensive, despite the fact that they are still "entry level" courses. I still have yet to meet all the requirements for my core classes.
Then again, if my husband is unable to get a job, I may have to drop out for the time being anyways. Sure he has unemployment, but that is temporary. If he can't find work soon, I will have to look for something full time instead of part time. I know its possible to do both school and work full time, but for me its far to difficult to maintain passing grades that way.
Recently I've been thinking about the "right intentions" part of the 8 fold path. It is basically intentions that have goodwill, is harmless, and free from desire. It made me wonder, is any intention free from reward/desire?
One example that what brought up, was helping a drug addict. Many would do it because they desire a better life for the addict. However, this desire can lead to burnout. Another would be doing charity because it makes you feel good. Looking forward to that reward means you do not have the right intention.
I used to always believe, as long as the intentions are good and the results are good, it doesn't matter how that good is achieved. Then again, there is no real way to predict a good outcome is there?